AN OFFERING BY BRO. WILLIAM BARTHOLOMEW, TO BRO. GEN. GEORGE COOKE, AT THE BANQUET GIVEN TO HIM AT THE LODGE OF ST. PAUL, AT BLACKWALL, JULY 20, 1847. WHAT brings our Friend across the sea? What moved the General's noble heart MASONIC INTELLIGENCE, SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER OF ROYAL ARCH MASONS OF ENGLAND. QUARTERLY CONVOCATION, August 4, 1847.-Present, E. Comps, A. Dobie, as Z; J.C. Morris, J. C. McMullen, W. H. White, C. Baumer, other Present and Past Grand Officers, and the Present and Past Principals of private Chapters. The Grand Chapter was opened in form, and with solemn prayer. The minutes of the last Grand Chapter were read and confirmed. It was then announced that Comp. Major-General Cooke was in attendance at the porch of the Grand Chapter in expectation of admittance, on which Comp. W. H. WHITE stated, that it was the wish of the M. E. Z., the Earl of Zetland, that Comp. Gen. Cooke should receive the appointment of Representative from the Supreme Grand Chapter of England to that of New York, provided such appointment should be approved by the other two Grand Pri..cipals. Comp. M'MULLEN, accompanied by other Grand Officers, were then directed to examine Gen Cooke as to his qualification. On his return, Comp. M'Mullen stated that he found Gen. Cooke was not only a R. A. M., but that he was a Member of the Prince of Wales' Chapter,* the Jewel of which Chapter he wore. The General was about being admitted, when * Comp. JOHN SAVAGE observed, that although Comp. Cooke was a R. A. M., there was no evidence of his being an installed Principal, and he questioned the power of the M. E. Z. himself to order his admission as a visitor. Comp. W. H. WHITE contended that the M. E. Z. had a right to direct admission; and in support of his argument instanced the fact, that in all matters of Masonic law, which were not dealt with in the R. A. Constitutions, the law of Craft Masonry was to rule; and as the Grand Master had the power of admitting Foreign Brethren to such Grand Lodge, so the M. E. Z. had the like power in the Supreme Grand Chapter. Comp. Dr. LANE however, in a comprehensive and eloquent manner, argued briefly on general points of Masonic law, and perfectly satisfied the Grand Chapter that the M. E. Z. had no such power as stated by the Grand Scribe E. Comp. W. H. WHITE persisted in his own version of the law.† Comp. DOBIE (as Z.) at length declared that in his opinion the M.E. Z. did not possess the power, and that he (Comp. D.) would not take the responsibility on himself. Query, was the examination according to English or American ritual?-if the former, we advisedly state General Cooke to be innocent of it-if the latter, Comp. M'Mullen was equally at fault: but we suppose the Jewel of the P. W. C. settled the matter to the satisfaction of all.-Printers' Devil. It is high time that Scribe E. should learn his Lessons. Some Companions may be in advance of circumstances, but he is lamentably behind. There can be no question that the M. E. Z. had no power, and Scribe E. should be more jealous of the honour of that distinguished Companion than to have submitted it to be questioned.-ED. Comp. Dr. LANE then proposed, and Comp. JOHN SAVAGE Seconded, that Comp. Gen. Cooke be permitted to enter the Grand Chapter as a visitor; which proposition being carried unanimously, the General was introduced in compliance with the vote of the Grand Chapter. The Financial Report was satisfactory. Ten guineas were voted to the Girls' and Boys' School respectively. Other business having been disposed of, the Grand Chapter was closed in form, and adjourned. UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND. COMMITTEE OF MASTERS, Aug. 25, 1847. Present-Bros. H. R. Lewis, A. Henderson, L. Thompson, Crucefix, M'Mullen, Bossy, P. Thomson, Parkinson. BOARD OF GENERAL PURPOSES.-Unconsidered portions of former Reports read. VICTORIA LODGE, 775, St. VincENTS.-A memorial from this Lodge was read, praying for the admission of free-men of colour. ROYAL YORK GRAND LODGE OF BERLIN.-Correspondence read. By which it appeared that on the 12th February, 1847, H. R. H. the Prince of Prussia in the chair, the Prussian Grand Lodge directed that in future no test as to religious creed would be called for from visiting Brethren-That St. John's Lodges in Prussia (so called) were synonymous with Craft Lodges elsewhere. The Grand Master of England considered this declaration was sufficient as regarded English certificates. GRAND LODGE OF TEXAS.-The Grand Master announced that he had accepted the nomination of Bro. James Wyld, Esq., M.P., as representative from the Grand Lodge of Texas. THE GRAND SECRETARY.-The Board of General Purposes recommend that this officer should continue during the pleasure of the Grand Lodge. ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT ANNUITY FUND.-The Board recommend a further annual grant of one hundred pounds to this fund. BENEVOLENT LODGE, 380, TEIGNMOUTH.—' -The case of a vote of five pounds from the Fund of Benevolence having been paid to the W. M. in June, 1841, whose signature appeared as witness to that of the petitioner, which the latter declared to the B. of G. P. not to be in his hand-writing-the Master stated that the petitioner was not in need, but that he (the Master) was, and that he did apply the money to his own use—which facts the petitioner acknowledged to be true! NOTICES OF MOTION. DR. CRUCEFIX (fifth time)—Annuities to the Widows of Masons. DR. LANE-On an alteration in the Laws, Art. ii. p. 28.* BRO. SCARBOROUGH-Renewed notices as to the library, &c. DR. CRUCEFIX-That the Right Hon. the Earl of Zetland be most *We have mislaid the mem. respectfully requested to sit for his portrait to some distinguished artist, and that such portrait be placed in the Hall among those of his lordship's illustrious and noble predecessors. Scrutineers.-Bros. Levick (85); Mountain (12); Newsom (36). At the Board of Benevolence, during the past quarter, there were several liberal grants; among them two of fifty pounds each, and one of thirty pounds, all to widows, abiding the confirmation of Grand Lodge. CIRCULAR ON EMERGENCY. The Right Hon. the Earl of Zetland, &c. &c., M. W. G. M. R. W. Brother,—Your attendance is requested at an ESPECIAL GRAND LODGE, to be holden at Freemasons' Hall, on Wednesday, the 18th day of August instant, at seven o'clock in the evening, for the purpose of considering a communication from the M. W. Grand Master, and report from the Board of General Purposes as to the proposed purchase of certain freehold houses and premises in Great Queen street, adjoining eastward on the society's present freehold property; and in the event of the Grand Lodge approving such purchase being effected, then further to make such orders as may be requisite to carry out that object. By command of the M. W. Grand Master, Freemasons' Hall, 10th August, 1847. WILLIAM H. WHITE, G. S. Present,-Bro. B. B. Cabbell, M. P., P. J. G W., as G. M., a few other present and past Grand Officers, and about sixty Masters, Past Masters, and Wardens. A report from the Board of General Purposes recommending the purchase of the property alluded to in the circular having been read, Bro. HARDWICK, G. Sup. Works, stated that in his opinion it was most desirable to purchase the property at a sum of 80007., and entered into a general statement of its prospective advantages. Bro. JENNINGS, then moved that such purchase be made, and that the 80007. be thus defrayed, viz. by selling out 5000l. consols standing to the credit of the Board of General Purposes, and by borrowing 3000l. from the Fund of Benevolence; which being seconded, some observations were made by Bros. HAVERS, J. L. BARNARD, and SMITH (109,) who sought to solicit more cogent reasons for the purchase, The motion was then put, and carried nem. con. QUARTERLY COMMUNICATION. (We have taken care to give as nearly as possible an exact report; "nothing September 1, 1847.-Present, The M. W. the Right Hon. the Earl of Zetland, Grand Master, on the Throne; R. W. Bro. Lewis, (Sumatra) as D. G. M.; Rowland Alston, P. G. M. (Essex); Dobie, P. G. M., (Surrey); Morris, S. G. W.; B. Bond Cabbell, J. G. W.; M'Mullen; Evans; Jas. Savage; Crucefix; Jennings; Hardwick; Forman; Rowland Alston, Jun., &c. &c.; W. B. Boronandi, Representative of Switzerland; Burmester, Hambro; Grand Stewards of the year; the VOL. V. SS Master, Past Masters, and Wardens of the Grand Stewards' Lodge, and the Masters, Past Masters, and Wardens of many other Lodges. Grand Lodge was opened in ample form. An extemporaneous prayer was offered up which was much approved by the Brethren ; and also a new one at the conclusion of Grand Lodge, by Bro. Rev. HAYES. Bro. Dr. LANE, here claimed the attention of the Grand Lodge. Before the minutes were read, he felt it a very painful duty to rise on a question of breach of privilege, and, although there might be a precedent for his doing so in the address of the R. W. Bro. Fox Maule at the last Quarterly Communication ; yet, being always willing to admit what told against as well as for him, he was ready to concede that the two cases were not precisely in point; if however it were held that there was no precedent, as from the very nature of this novel case there hardly could be, he (Bro. Dr. Lane) felt that one must be made that night. He rose to complain that in the authorized and so-called authentic report of the proceedings of the Grand Lodge, held in June last, what he had addressed to the M. W. G. Master and Brethren, was wholly misrepresented. His name was so well known in the Craft, that he was very indifferent about the matter himself, but public duty called on him to watch over the working of this newly introduced system of authorised reports. He ought perhaps to have at once stated the substance of his complaint, which was, that he had spoken for the express purpose of defending the Freemasons' Quarterly Review against the calumnies which had been so unjustifiably Bro. M'MULLEN rose to order-No breach of privilege had been committed. Dr. LANE-He had repudiated the attempt made in June, to convert a mere mistake in a report into a crime, and a proof of garbling, as most unjustifiable, and most perfectly out of order. Bro. ALSTON, Sen., made a long speech to order. The GRAND MASTER-Does the Brother complain of any thing in that paper affecting him individually? Bro. Dr. LANE, (emphatically) you M. W. G. M. yourself, from that chair, on an occasion not easily to be forgotten, ruled, that as nearly as possible, we should follow the order and rules of one of the houses of legislature of the land, (cheers) and in that house a complaint like this, takes precedence of all other questions, and requires no notice of motion. The GRAND MASTER-I stated at the last Grand Lodge, that I should hold myself personally responsible for those reports, and I think notice should have been given of this complaint to me. Bro. Dr. LANE-Then my lord, I now do give notice to you that I will bring this complaint again forward at the next quarterly communication of Grand Lodge-(cheers.)* The GRAND MASTER stated that he had received a communication from the Grand Lodge of Texas, appointing Bro. James Wyld as their representative; he had approved such appointment, and Bro. Wyld would now be introduced. Bro. Wyld was brought into the Grand Lodge in *We have reason to know that Dr. Lane has forwarded a formal notice to the Grand Master, and we trust that some satisfactory reason will be given for the incorrectness of the report; and also that by the insertion of the matter in Dr. Lane's speech, of the suppression of which Dr. Lane complains, all will be arranged. Had the G. M. heard Dr. Lane's corrections, they would have appeared in the next authorised report, and thus all further trouble and vexation saved. Why was Bro. Fox Maule permitted to enter on a question of privilege without notice and a like permission refused to Dr. Lane?-Printer's Devil. |